The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-14
MACBETH.
The Second of Or. Dalton's Saturday
Lectures.

By way of introduction to this and sub
sequent lectures, DR.. Dalton offered few
suggestions on the providential mission of
the great poets, viz: to conserve certain
principles of morality and religion which
underle civilization and are essential ele-
ments of human society. The fundamental
principles of morality have been assaulted
in all ages, and in every age found valiant
defenders. This is true also of historical
characters, events and works as illustrated
by the Homeric and Shakespearean contro-
yersies. OF all conservatives, the poets are
the greatest. Homer and the Greek drama
lists served the cause of morality and reli-
gion more successfully than the philosophers,
not excepting Socrates, Plato and Aristotle;
and the reason is not far to seek. The poets
appeal to the heart, the philosophers to the
head Dante was more effective teacher of
religion than st. Thomas Aquinas; and
Shakespeare than Bishop Butler, including
as he does the moralities and essential
truths of religion. What an example OF tins
we have in Macbeth, a very arsenal OF the
weapons with which we may repel the fiery
darts of the adversary. After rec0nnting
the striking events of the drama (Which he
called one of action the lecturer proceeded
growing out of them. First as to Macbeth
himself. Was his action voluntary. or of
necessity Did the prophecy of the witches
necessitate his actions and free him from
responsibility, or even lessen it? Was his
character changed, or only developedP Seeds
found in mummies have retained their vitality
thousands of years, and then terminated on
coming to the light. So the seeds of things
lie dormant in our hearts, till exposed to the
vivifying influences of life, when they germ
mate and rapidly develop. What If Mac
beth had lived and died subject and not
sovereign? What does his ambition suggest
to us all as to our worldly callings and con-
ditions? How was Macbeth related to the
witches, and above all to his wife? How do
they compare in themselves, in their rea-
tions to each other, in the development of
the plot and the commission of their awful
crime? What kind of woman was Lady
Macbeth anyway? Was she of a masculine
or feminine type, loud or low voiced, coarse
or refined, brave or cowardly? What was
her impelling motive, love or ambition Did
she chiefly seek her own or her husbands
advancement Mark the relative effect of
the crime on each. How does Lady Mac
beth compare with ClytemnestraP How
Macbeth with Edipus in Sophocles? With
Saul, David and HaZael of the Old Tesla
ment? Lastly, how are we to regard the
actions, characters and fates of Duncan
Macduff, and the rest? Were their deaths
penal for their derelictions of duty, or sac
rifices of the good to the evil, as often wit
messed in this world? This is the great
theme in all Shakespeares tragedies, and
both deserves and will reward our most
careful study. Poetic justice, as it is called,
is in accord with the popular idea. But
Shakespeare everywhere goes contrary to it,
as we shall see, not only here in Macbeth,
but much more even. in 0thello. Lear, and
Hamlet; not so much in the Merchant of
Venice as that is rather a comedy ending
we'll. and comedy is the proper name for
any story or drama which has an agreeable
conclusion. Doubtless life has these two
aspects which are properly presented in
comedy and in tragedy. Novels generally
present us examples of poetic justice, but
the greatest poets from Homer to Browning
have exercised their highest powers in ex-
hibting the other phase of the earthly fates
of the good and pure, which so often darken
our existence and try our faith, leading TO
higher view of life than the popular. What
that is, will appear as we proceed in our
study Of the master pieces of "P dltissimo
DOPfl.p